Brexit and Beyond: Implications for the British Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories

The result of the UK referendum on membership of the EU has caused shock waves across the UK, to Europe and beyond as people try to grapple with the complex legal, economic and political consequences of the 'Leave' vote.

Although unable to vote, the people of the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies need to consider what their interests really are for the future and how, constitutionally and legally, those interests could best be protected as the UK prepares for Brexit. It will be up to them to make sure their voices are heard and that the new constitutional and legal landscape suits their needs. This may require careful thought about their current constitutional position and the extent to which it allows them to forge their own relationships with the devolved nations, other countries and regional and international organisations. The one thing all these territories have in common is that they are small communities, vulnerable to shocks from the outside world and with limited capacity for international diplomacy. Tackling the enormity of this challenge will be a struggle. But this break in the status quo is also an unprecedented opportunity to reset the agenda and decide what place they want in the world in the 21st Century.